Gas valve or cock.



T. J. LITLE, JR. GAS VALVE 0R COCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 24, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914;.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT THOMAS JAMES LITLE, JR, OE WOODIBURY, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO WELSBACH LIGHT COMPANY, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS VALVE 0R COCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 191d.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs J. LITLE, Jr., acitizen of the United States, and a resident of VVoodbury, in the countyof Gloucester and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Gas Valves or Cocks, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specificatlon, 1n which Figure 1 is aside view of a portion of a gas lamp having my invention appliedthereto; Fig. .2 is a similar view taken at substantially right anglesto Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is a side view of the valve-actuating mecha- 1 ing 18, in its hubportion, which loosely engages and turns on the projecting stem 11 ofthe valve plug 6. The hub portion of nism on a larger scale; Fig. 41- isa sectional View taken through the valve plug; Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of the actuating lever; and Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe clutch member.

My invention has relation to an improve.- ment in gas cocks or valves,and is designed to provide a device of this character having an audiblesignal which will be sounded only when the cock is operated to shut offthe gas. It has been customary to provide gas cocks with an indicator toshow the open or closed position of the valve, but when the room is darkand this indicator is not visible, the operator has no means of knowingwhether the cock is open or closed, and in case the pilot light is notburning, or the lamp is not equipped witha pilot light, the cock may beleft open with the gas escaping.

My invention is designed to provide an audible signal device which willemit a distinct sound when the cock is closed.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a device of this characterin which the signal member will act as a pawl, to prevent the valve plugfrom turning backwardly and partly shutting off the gas by reason of thefrictional action of the operating lever when the latter springs intoposition for a subsequent pull on the operating chain.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated the preferredform of my invention, the numeral 2 designates a portion of a lampcasing having secured thereto a bracket 3, formed with a connection 4for the gas supply .pipe (not shown). The connection 4 is provided witha gas passage 5, leading downwardly through the bracket to the burner ofthe lamp and which is controlled by a valve 6 of the turning plug type.This plug is formed with a tail proection 7, to which is secured asuitable visible indicator 8, by means of the nut 9 and washer 10. Atits opposite end, the plug 6 has a projecting stem 11, to which is fixeda clutch member 12. The outer face of this member is provided with aseries of clutch teeth 13, having the cam surfaces 14.

The periphery of the member has ratchet teeth 15, 16, these two sets ofteeth alternating with each other, and the teeth 15 having a veryconsiderably greater radial projection than the teeth 16.

17 is an actuating lever, having an openthis lever is of circular form,and has its 5 inner face formed with a plurality of clutch ;teeth 19,corresponding to the teeth 11 of the member 12, and also havingcorresponding cam surfaces 20.

21 1s a spring coiled around the stem 11,

3 between its head 22 and the outer face of the j hub portion of thelever 17. One end of this spring is attached to the lever arm and 3 itsother end is attached to the bracket 3 at the point 23. This spring notonly provides for the return of the actuating lever to non mal positionin operatlon, but it also acts to force the lever inwardly toward theclutch member 12.

24 is the usual pull chain attached to the lever 17, and which extendsdownwardly through a guiding eye 25, on a laterally projecting arm 3 ofthe bracket 3.

The element 26 is a combined pawl and signal plate which is secured tothe bracket 3 in a position to cause its forward edge to engage with theteeth 15 and 16 on the clutch member 12. This plate is of springmaterial, so that'it will snap into engagement with these teeth.

Then the chain 2 1 is pulled downwardly, the clutch tooth on the leverhub will engage the corresponding tooth on the member 12, and therebyturn the valve plug 6 an anthe lever, the cooperating cam surfaces 14;

and 20 0-1 the lever hub and clutch member 12 tend to separate saidmembers, thereby compressing the spring 21. When the lever is returnedto its normal position, this spring will act to move the lever intoclutching position with the member 12.

The member 12 is so placed that its teeth 15 and 16 are in position tobe engaged by the pawl and signal member 26 after each turning movementof the valve plug. One of the deeper teeth 15 will be engaged by thispawl and signal member when the valve is in closed position, while oneof the shallower teeth 16 will be engaged when the valve is in openposition. As the pawl member 26 rides over the camed peripheral edge ofthe member 12, adjacent to each tooth 15, it is put under considerablecompression, so that it will positively snap into engagement with theshoulder or a tooth as soon as the proper position of the member 12 isreached. This snap gives an audible signal which can be readily heard.In rid ing over one of the teeth 16, however, comparatively littletension is put on the spring pawl, and but little, if any, noise will beemitted when the pawl engages one of these teeth. If the operator failsto catch the signal on its first occurrence, he can continue to pull thechain until the signal is heard. He thenknows that the valve is beingleft in its closed position. As the member 26 engages said tooth on theclutch member 12 at the end. of the down movement of the lever 17, itacts to effectively prevent any backward movement of the valve plug,while the lever is returning to normal position, due to friction betweenthe hub portion of the lever and the member 12.

It will be obvious that various changes can be made in the details ofthe construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas cock having an audible signal, means for actuating the cock toopen and close it, an audible signal, and means operated by the movementof said cock to closed position for sounding said signal, said meansbeing inoperative when the cock is moved to opened position;substantially as described.

2. In a gas cock, the combination of a rotary valve, an actuating devicetherefor, a combined pawl and signal member, and means whereby saidmember locks the valve in both its open and closed positions and gives asignal only when the valve is closed, substantially as described.

3. A gas cook having a rotary valve, "a combined clutch and ratchetmember on the stem of the valve, an actuating lever having a clutchportion to cooperate with said member, and a combined pawl and signalmember arranged to snap into engagement with the ratchet teeth of saidmember, said teeth being of different depths, and the deeper teeth beingarranged to actuate said member to produce a signal substantially asdescribed.

4. A gas cook comprising a rotary valve, a combined clutch and ratchetmember attached to said valve, an actuating lever hav ing aclutchportion to cooperate with the clutch member, a spring for returning thelever to normal position and also actingto force its clutch portion intoengagement with the clutch member, a combinedpawl and signal, the clutchmember having teeth, and some of said teeth being of a depth to causethe pawl and signal member to vibrate and thereby emit an audiblesignal; substantially as described.

A gas cook comprising a rotary valve having a projecting stem, a membersecured to said stem and having peripheral ratchet teeth of diflerentdepths, means for rotating the valve, and a spring pawl adapted toengage one of the deeper teeth when the valve is being turned to closedposition and there by vibrate said pawl to cause it to emit an audiblesignal, substantially as described.

, 6. A gas cook comprising a rotary valve, the stem of said valve havingtwo sets of teeth thereon of diiferent depths, and a combined pawl andsignal member adapted to engage said teeth, substantially as described.

7. A gas cock having an audible signal, means for actuating the cock toopen and close it, an audible signal, and means operated by the movementof said cock to closed position for sounding said signal, said meansbeing inoperative when the cock is moved to opened position, the signaland the actuating means also forming means for holdingthe cock in itsset position, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

Witnesses:

EDGAR LENTON, J. H. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

